"I met with Gary in October to discuss adding a granite cap to my outdoor fire pit. The original fire pit stone and mortar had deteriorated. Gary was able to work with a stone quarry and have them create a round sold granite cap to go over the existing stone. The granite was delivered and placed on top of the pit today as he had to drive a truck across my lawn and we wanted to be sure the ground was frozen. He will return in the spring to finish the work by applying mortar under the granite and he will also do some stone wall repair at that time. While this project has been long and slow, Gary always quickly responded to my text and phone messages. The cost was more than I would like, but material costs are very high everywhere right now. I will definitely work with Gary again."
"Lenny and Nick went above my expectations! I told them what I wanted, Nick sketched out a plan, and it was perfect! My basement is absolutely beautiful! They were reliable, prompt, and told me everything that was going on! I would highly recommend this company for any remodel! Bravo guys!"
"I had them do a cleaning and inspection of my chimney and they found damages to the brickwork and the top of the chimney. They installed a new cap and their cost was so reasonable. All their work is guaranteed as well, which is reassuring. They were clean, efficient and courteous. I would highly recommend Handy Andy and in fact they are doing an estimate for my neighbor to whom I recommended them to."
"They did an excellent job and I continue to use them. They are very knowledgeable and they were very responsive with solutions. We would highly recommend them to anyone."
"The process was seamless and quick. Everyone involved in the project was helpful and friendly. It was done in one afternoon and our roof looks great!"
"Our chimney needed to be raised and brought up to current code, and the solution was handled the right way from start to finish. The chimney was lifted to the proper height and securely strapped to meet structural and safety requirements. Everything was measured, reinforced, and stabilized so it’s not just compliant, but solid moving forward. The work was well planned, clearly explained, and executed with attention to both function and appearance. It’s reassuring knowing the chimney now meets code and is properly supported."
Yes, you can do German schmear on stone. You can account for the more textured and rough surface of stone by using a large paintbrush instead of a putty knife. A brush allows you to drag mortar across the stone to get it into all the cracks and crevices. However, a brush will cover more of the surface, so you may need a wet sponge to scrub excess mortar and expose more of your stone.
The size of your pizza oven will determine the number of bricks necessary to build it. So the bigger your pizza oven, the more fire bricks you’ll need to purchase. Keep in mind that fire bricks cost about $3each.
The white stains you see on your bricks are likely efflorescence, which is salt and lime buildup. To remove efflorescence stains, simply brush them away with a stiff brush. For larger, more stubborn stains, scrub the stains with a water-detergent solution.
Spalling brick is not uncommon, but it does indicate a serious issue. It can be caused by water damage, an intense freeze-thaw cycle, or something else. Painted bricks can be susceptible to spalling, as the paint doesn’t allow the porous material of the brick to breathe, which can trap moisture. Spalling should always be addressed immediately before more serious structural damage occurs.
The cost of masonry work varies widely depending on the type of masonry along with common cost factors like size, complexity, location, and season. Most exterior masonry work done in freezing temperatures tends to cost more because of the preparation and protection involved to keep the masonry from freezing before the mortar cures properly. The average price ranges per project or square foot for different types of masonry include:
Brick wall (fence, garden wall, etc.): $10–$45 per square foot
Natural stone wall: $40–$110 per square foot
Manufactured stone veneer: $20–$40 per square foot
Need to repoint brick in your home to make your home look fresh and new? Use this guide to repointing brick cost to price out your project before starting.
Door or window lintel replacement costs $400 on average, but there are ways you can save. On the other hand, complicated work will increase costs considerably.
When it comes to masonry versus concrete, it can be easy to confuse the two. Use this guide to learn about the differences in appearance, strength, and more.
Discover the wide variety of masonry materials for your next home upgrade project. Our guide covers the different types of materials to choose from and more.
